How to Enjoy Bogor in Minimum Budget

Bogor or Buitenzorg or Rainy City or whatever it's call is one of famous tourism town. If you are a backpacker who travelled with budget consideration, I can show you how to enjoy this town with the cheapest price.

If you arrive by bus (Directly to Bogor from Airport with Damri Bus (5 USD) or (8 USD for the executive bus), then you will stop at Baranang Siang Terminal (estimated time 2-3 hours in crowded).

In Baranang Siang it is almost hard to find a cheap room, mostly a five stars hotel all you can find. Don't be in rush to find hotel. Just enjoy Baranang Siang first, take a look around, go outside the terminal, and you'll see a police office (you safe there). and across the road there's a Botanical Square, the most famous mall in Bogor. It's not give you a best price, but at least you can find some safe and health meal inside. Try the cross bridge to get there.

Since you are a foreigner, you have to look confidence. many people wants to help you, but some more just want to make a trick to you so that they can gain some benefit.

First, you should try Bogor Botanical Garden. People say that if you weren't went to Bogor Botanical Garden, then you were never go to Bogor yet (be carefull with the traffic).

After you have some meal, try to take a walk to the right. go outside the Botanical Square, you will see KFC, Holland Bakery in front of you, than take a walk to right. there's Kujang Tower the magnificent symbol of Bogor. Kujang is Bogor's traditional weapon at the past, and used in war against the colony. Take some picture (be carefull with the smell, it is usually become a home for the homeless people).

Then you go to Bogor Botanical Garden. but if it's too late, find some hotel in that area. you can take angkot or public transportation with the number 06 from Kujang Tower to Bogor Botanical Garden (Rp 3000), and usually there's a cheap hostels around. just ask to the driver or some officer. (Rp 3000) or stop at BTM Mall and in front of BTM Mall try to find another public transportation number 02 where you can find many five stars hotel. well actually in campus area (Bogor Agricultural University) there are plenty cheap room, from 15 USD or 20 USD per night, while the five stars hotel is around 50 USD or 70 USD per night. but it is too far from the Bogor Botanical Garden,

To get Bogor Agricultural University from Kujang Tower, try to take number 03 where people are shouting for 'laladon laladon' (Rp 4000). follow him, have a seat. in Laladon you should take another angkot with 'Kampus Dalam' (Rp 3000). there you will find man shouting 'Dalam dalam dalam'. tell the driver you want to stop in Berlin, then when you see, Berlin is a small get (for just one person to pass) that separated campuss and the market, it is actually a short cut.  then take ojek (motor rider) they will invite you to come, choose one and say 'Amarilis pak'. Since Amarilis is a guestroom, the rider should know where.

Then you still have time to enjoy my campuss. try to take a walk and some pictures, because my campus is still green and fresh. Really enjoyable (or you can find me. my basecamp is Outdoor club near Amarilis. just ask where's Lawalata) we are beside the tennis court.

Wake up in early morning, find some ways to Bogor Botanical Garden, by ojek, then kampus dalam, then you should note this. In Laladon you have to take angkot number 02 which will take you directly to the Botanical Garden (Rp 3000).

Botanical Garden, as it names, was plenty of giant trees, mystical stories, and whatever. you can pay for guide but I don't know how much it costs. the ticket for foreigner is Rp 25.000 (2 USD). There are a lot you can see, a beautiful lake, flowering garden, have some lunch in D'daunan Cafe. it provides much scenery.

you can see some Dutch's graveyard behind the bamboo forest, mystical enough but I really want to see it again and again.

Finish with the Garden, get back to the town. with the number 02 get back to where you used to but stop in the Train station. they will show you where the station is, but it's not the point. cross the road, take angkot number 03 and ask them to stop in Apple pie. that is culinary area. apple pie, klapertaart, firewood pizza, and many more.

then you get a half taste of Bogor. If you want for more, you should go hiking. to Mountain Salak or Gede Pangrango. Mountain Salak is a heavy rain forest but Gede Mountain and Pangrango in other side have a best scenery. try to contact me with twitter if you want some guide.